A manga doomsday prediction has triggered panic among travelers, leading to canceled flights and fewer tourists in Japan. The viral rumor, linked to a comic book forecasting a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami, has particularly affected visitors from Hong Kong.
Japan recently celebrated record tourism numbers, with April seeing 3.9 million arrivals. However, May saw an 11% drop in Hong Kong travelers, where the manga doomsday prediction spread widely on social media. Airlines have even axed flights due to dwindling demand.
Steve Huen, a Hong Kong travel agency executive, confirmed the manga doomsday prediction hurt business. “Bookings to Japan have halved,” he said. To counter fears, agencies now offer discounts and earthquake insurance. Without these, travel numbers could have plummeted further. Branden Choi, a frequent Japan visitor, admitted delaying his trip. “I’ll wait until September,” he said. Many others share his hesitation, fearing the supposed July 2025 disaster.
The manga, The Future I Saw, originally published in 1999, resurfaced in 2021. Its creator, Ryo Tatsuki, insists she is “not a prophet.” Still, readers linked her story to real-life events.
Her first edition mentioned a March 2011 disaster the same month Japan suffered a deadly earthquake and tsunami. Now, some believe the new edition predicts doom for July 5, 2025. Tatsuki denies this, but speculation continues.
Japan sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it prone to earthquakes. Recently, Kyushu experienced over 900 minor tremors. Yet, seismologist Robert Geller remains skeptical. “Scientific earthquake prediction is impossible,” he said. “None of the past predictions I’ve seen were accurate.” Despite his reassurance, fear lingers among travelers.
Hong Kong’s Greater Bay Airlines recently suspended flights to Tokushima. Other carriers may follow if the manga doomsday prediction keeps tourists away. Serena Peng, a visitor from Seattle, initially hesitated but now feels safer. “I was nervous before,” she said outside Tokyo’s Senso-ji temple. “Now, I’m just enjoying my trip.”
As Japan braces for peak travel season, officials hope rationality will prevail. For now, the manga doomsday prediction remains a social media storm—not science.
